Dry Eye Relief at Walgreens

Common circumstances like aging, weather conditions, medication side effects, and lack of sleep can all be responsible for giving you dry eyes. When your eyes aren't kept adequately lubricated, you might notice uncomfortable symptoms like itching, and discomfort. While there is no cure for dry eyes, there are several over-the-counter products available from Walgreens that you can use to treat the issue and start feeling better.

Treating Dry Eyes with Drops

The most common over-the-counter products to help relieve your dry eyes are lubricating eye drops. These drops can help provide relief when you suffer discomfort from common factors like tiredness, extremely sunny or windy weather, and eyestrain from looking at a computer monitor for too long. By replenishing some of the elements of the natural tears already present in your eyes, lubricating drops help keep your eyes moist, which lessens discomfort.

Manufacturers often produce two different levels of lubricating eye drops. If you have mild to moderate dry eyes, then regular drops-also known as artificial tears-might be all you need to get lasting relief, but more severe problems can sometimes require gel eye drops. Gel products are thicker and longer-lasting, so they are optimal for overnight use and can be especially helpful when non-temporary conditions like the aging process or drug side effects cause you to have dry eyes all the time.

Putting in eye drops can be a difficult task for some people-especially those who don't wear contact lenses and aren't used to touching their eyes. To use drops, it's best to tilt your head back and then pull down your lower eyelid with your finger. Hold the bottle of eye drops close to your eye (but far enough away that it won't touch) and then squeeze out a few drops. Blink several times to help distribute the drops, and then repeat the same process with your other eye.

Treating Dry Eyes with Ointments

For some people, dry eyes are such a constant problem that the relief provided by drops is too fleeting. These individuals may benefit most from one of the dry eye ointments available from Walgreens. Ointments are especially helpful for overnight use as they can reduce eye itchiness and help you get a better night's sleep.

The process of applying eye ointment is very similar to putting in drops, but it can feel a little odd the first time you do it. Pull down your lower eyelid with your finger to create a small pouch. Next, take the tube of ointment, and squeeze a thin line along the length of the pouch, making sure not to touch the tip of the tube to your eyeball. After the ointment has been applied, blink a few times and then close your eye for one or two minutes to allow the ointment to disburse. Use a tissue to wipe away any excess ointment.

Dry eyes are a pesky problem that you can never completely get rid of, but most people find that treatment can provide some level of immediate and lasting relief. Walgreens has products that cover the full spectrum of dryness, so you can find the perfect gel, drop or ointment to finally end your discomfort. Please see your eye doctor if your dry eye issues persist.